Hattis

[All photos are by Bellie Jayaprakash and copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is illegal]

Badagas, generally, refer to their village or hamlet as ‘ HATTI ‘ spread around ‘Nakku Betta’ (the Nigiris). Nakku Betta literally means four (Nakku) Mountains (betta) though there are many hills around which the villages are located. It appears that initially when the Badagas established their hamlets, they took two very important factors into consideration. Being very environment conscious, they chose a) direction – always or to a very great extent facing the east [ ‘Hothu (sun) uttua (rising) pakka (side)’] and b) water souce – near a stream (halla) or spring (huttu neeru).Every hatti had a ‘suthugallu’ (sacred triangular shaped stone) at the base of a ‘bikka mara’ (tree) around which important meetings (Kootu) took place. For the most sacred of all Badaga festivals ‘Hethai Habba’ – always held on a monday (sovara), the collection of money (Hana kattodu) took place at the suthugallu in an elaborate ceremony on the preceding friday (belli). Let me write about Hethai Habba in a separate article.

The houses of each village were laid out in rows, each row facing the east. The houses had common walls (Gode mane) possibly as a measure of security. Every house had exactly the same configuration of Bayilu (entrance), Nadu mane (central-living/dining room ),Oge mane (inner room) where cooking also takes place (kitchen) with a large beskatti (basket) above the hearth where drying takes place, Pillay (bathroom) and Ereh (a separate room adjacent to the bayilu). Of course, there was an attic on top of beskatti( kitchen having a hearth) the entry to which is from the nadumane. Again, we will discuss about a typical badaga house separately.

A cluster of villages, which need not be close to each other, is called a ‘Seemae’.

This interesting piece of information is from the article of Indu K Mallah (also see the “ORIGIN” page) where she talks about how the ‘SEEMEs’ came to be formed :

“It is said that during the reign of Tipu Sultan, seven brothers and their sister were living in a village called Badagahalli on the Talaimalai Hills near Mysore. One evening as the sister, who was a ravishing beauty, was busy making preparations for the milking of the cows as usual, one of the calves broke loose from the tree to which she had tied it . Not finding anything handy with which to tie it again, she uncoiled her long, luxuriant hair and held the calf back with it, while her brother milked the cow.

Legend has it that Tipu Sultan was riding in the vicinity and was witness to this sight. He was captivated by the sister and wanted to marry her. The brothers, who were staunch Hindus, disguised themselves and their sister, and fled by night to the Nilgiris. Legend has it too, that when they reached River Moyar, which is the northernmost limit of the Nilgiri District, their pursuers started to close in on them. The family is said to have placed a ‘Shivalingam’ on the ground, and prayed before it. The river Moyar is then said to have parted, and the refugees to have crossed over, while their pursuers were drowned by the closing waters.

The distinctive dress of the Badaga women is said to be the disguise adopted by them in flight, and the tattooing on their fore-heads and fore-arms, a measure taken to make them unattractive. Legend also has it that in their hurry, they forget to pickup a baby asleep in a cradle, and even today, as a reminder of that lapse, the more orthodox Badagas will not use a cradle for a baby. The brothers are said to have settled down near the present village of Bethelhada. After a short stay there, they separated and dispersed in different directions. The oldest brother told one of his younger brothers to follow a deer and build a village where it stopped. The younger brother followed his instructions and settled down in Kinnakorai, where the deer stopped. Another brother settled down in Koderi, yet another in Hubbathalai. These brothers where the founders of the Porangad division of the Badagas.

The establishing of three other ‘semais’ or divisions have interesting histories behind them. It is said that as one group of Badagas or Gowdas reached the Nilgiris, they took shelter in a forest and in their hurry to leave, left a baby behind, which crawled into a cave. A Toda who happened to pass by glimpsed the baby, and enticed it to came out, but it would not. He then went and brought his own child and sprinkled some roasted amaranth grains in front of it. As the Toda child started picking the grains, the Gowda baby joined him, and the Toda father brought him up and it is said that he is the founder of the ‘Thothanad’ division of the Badagas.

According to another account, two Gowda brothers arrived from Mysore and reached Nunthala. They were very hungry. The younger brother is said to have shot a pigeon, and to have roasted and eaten it, while the elder brother abstained. It is said that the vegetarian brother is the ‘Hethappa’, or ancestor of the Kundah Division of the Badagas, while the non-vegetarian brother, the founder of the Mekunad Division of the Badagas”.

Though, so much is written and spoken about Badagas, it is a matter of great regret and concern that still the “EXACT” number of Badaga hattis is not known. The total number varies from 300 to 400. Though Rao Bahadur H.B. Ari Gowder is known to have sent his collegue HAIKA MATHI [literaly meaning horse man] Joghee Gowder of Bygemandu, in 1940s and 1950s to all the villages to know about the problems of Badagas, unfortunately there are no written records traceable.

Prof. Paul Hockings may be one of the earliest to mention the number and names of the hattis in his books.

In a laudable effort, Mr. K.H.Madha Gowder edited “NAKKU BETTA” magazine, had attempted to record all the hattis in one of its issues in late 1970s. I take this opportunity to list the villages as mentioned in ‘Nakku Betta’ hoping any omission/ incorrect mention will be brought to my notice so that the same can be included.

I have preferred to use the names as known to Badagas. For example, Jakkada for Jagathala or Manjidha for Manjithala or Pedduva for Pethala

I. ‘ Thodha Naadu Seemae ‘

(Supposed to be our “Dodda Ooru”. Also known as ‘Raja Padagiri Seemae’) The boundaries are from Solur to Kookkal Thore

(What I have mentioned as repeat – may be there are two [H]Osa hattis ?)

Hello sir,
Iam S.Suresh(Kalhatty), i want to bring to yourattention that in the list of our hatties my hatty Masickal is missing, I dont know whether you misspelt it in Thothanad semae hatty number 22, If its misspelt please try to change it or if you have left it consider my humble request to add my hatty in it.. Also you have not mentioned Asoganthorai, add these two hatties in the list…- Thank you, Suresh – Wg Cdr JP

Also known as ‘ Asala Bisalagiri Seemay ‘ and (Meekunadu Seeme 9 Ooru).

Limits from Ketti to Keeyur

“Halattanai to which i belong to is the head hatti (oor) for keeyur haru hatti which includes denadu, mainalay, kothiben, masikandi, bengal and kokkalada inturn the keeyur comes under mekku nadu seemae (info from Dr.Bellukutty Sudhakar)”.Thanks to Dennadu Raman Bhojan (Bhoju) there is this interesting bit of news about DENAADU. Though it belongs to MEKKUNAADU SEEMAY, it forms a group of six villages called KIGOORU- KEEYUR (Kiloor). Denaadu people do not, usually, marry from the 33 + 6 [kigooru] villages of Mekkunaadu. Most of the marriages are from/to KUNDHAY SEEMAY, though of late, marriages have taken place from Villages belonging to PORANGAADU SEEMAY – like for example, Jakkadha (Jaghathala) of Aarooru (Jakkadha, Bearhatty, Karakorai, Mel Bikkatti, Kiya Bikkatti, Manjidha) group

Added :
1. Kora Kundhe 2. Emarald (thanks to rajunandha
3. Hayoor (which is next to Kannerimukku in Kotagiri (thanks to mithun matha dharmaraj 4. Thorajada 5. Kombukorai (thanks to N Bellie 6. Thambatti added to ‘Thodha Naadu Seeme’ (thanks to Jagadeesh)
This is Ganesan Lingan from Porthy Village Mekku Nadu seeme.
“I just gone thru the Badagas website to know our hatties and seeme’s, I saw all the hattis and seems in one place and really enjoyed reading each and every hattis. I would say this is definitely Great effort! And really appreciable”.
I just wanted to you know that Emerald is not a badaga village( as per my knowledge) and fully occupied by other communities except one or two badgas having provisional stores and houses along with that, So I request you the remove the Emerald from our hatti list. And also I found Osa Attu Bayilu missing from Meeku nadu.
There are two Attu Bayilu one is Palliya (old) Attu bayliu and other one Osa attu Bayliu.
Also Bigada missing from Thodha nadu Seeme (not sure about seeme).This village spotted near Ithalar… This is a beautiful very tiny village located in center of the tea estates.

As elaborated in the page on Badaga Hattis [villages], still there seems to be no conclusive evidence about how the ancestors made the divisions [geographical and social] about their villages.Simply put, in ancient times, a few houses (among brothers and cousins) formed a HATTI and then a cluster of villages, though based not only on the geographical locations, formed a OORU. Obviously, all the people from the hattis forming the Ooru were/are considered as brothers and sisters – and hence no marriages among these hattis were considered. Then, many Oorus formed a SEEMAY or NAADU.

And, FOUR Seemays or Naadus form NAKKU BETTA – representing the complete Badaga population in the Nilgiri hills. Though, only three Naadus /Seemays namely, Thodhanaadu, Mekkunaadu and Porangaadu have the Dhodda Betta peak as the apex and common point of these three seemays, KUNDHEY SEEMAY, at the southern eastern end, is very much a separate and important seemay. See the map.

The confusion comes when we realise that some Thodha,Kotha and Kuruma villages/Oorus were also included into the broader periphery of Naadu/Seemay. The probable reasons for this inclusion could be the close association of Badagas with these tribes considered as the original inhabitants of the Nilgiris along with Badagas.

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182 responses to “Hattis”

Hello Sir !
Just as I was browsing in my free time at office, I wanted to know more information on Badagas and found this very useful and informative website. Kudos !!! My native is Kadanad and my Mothers place is Nanjanad. My dad has settled upon in Chennai for livelihood and its more than 30 years now and myself and my brother are working in CTS Chennai. Offlate, everytime when i visit my hatty there is an more worse situation. We have people moving out and out for livelihood and Coimbatore has more Badaga population now than the whole district Nilgiris itself. Such is the case. People who do farming there are still starving for an wealthier lifestyle. We are not getting good money for Tea Leaves which almost remains the same for past 12 years whereas the economy has doublefolded. How can people survive? They move out to other cities Coimbatore mostly for an average income of 10,000-15,000 which means even that is not possible staying in Hattis, having own lands for cultivation and tea estates even which is a very sorry state right? WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS WITH THE HELP OF ESTABLISHMENT YOU HAVE GOT, YOU CAN, WE CAN TRY TO BE A STRONG POLITICAL FORCE TO GET OUR NEEDS. SUCH SHOULD BE THE CASE THAT EVEN AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WHOM STANDS FOR OUR CAUSE SHOULD WIN BOTH ASSEMBLY AND EVEN PARLIMENT ELECTIONS THROWING BACK EXISTENT POLITICAL FORCES LIKE DMK.ADMK.INC OR BJP. THEN THE NATION WILL TAKE NOTICE. WE CAN EMPHASIZE OUR NEEDS AND DEEDS AND EARN GOOD AND LIVE HAPPILY ON OUR OWN SOIL AGRICULTURING !!!
I say all this because I understand people minds and strictly beleive no one is so happy to move out for a mere livelihood which is the case now. I HOPE YOU CAN TRY, EDUCATE AND WRITE THE NEED TO BE A POLITICAL STRONGFORCE. I HOPE YOU AGREE TOO OR IF YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS FINE AND PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HAPPY, THEN I AM SORRY FOR MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU.

Hello Sir,
Yes , I have recently visited Nattakal. Had a chance to talk to a few elders in and around that small hatti ,few hetthais/ayyas are 80+ and they too informed that Kinnakorai belongs to Porangaadu Seemay.
No surprise that you got this information , even more you have a deep dive in our culture and have more knowledge than any other people who do research 🙂
Proud of you Sir , Have fantastic time…!!
I’m a big fan of your’s.
Thanks,
Santhosh [getme.santhosh@gmail.com]

I am from gudalur though not a badaga myself. I have been with and known badagas for a long time. I am an ardent trekker and I have been trekking in the himalayas and nepal for quite some time now. some of the places in the nilgiris are very similar to garwal and kumaon regions of uttaranchal and eastern parts of himachal, there is a good scope for wonderful treks here. and the badagas are as hospitable as those inhabitants of the himalayas I really regret for not utilizing the opportunity of trekking while I was a student here at ooty, now I would like to go for treks, ie walk from hutty to hatty along the road used by badagas those days. I would talk to the old timers and find out the routs used by them years ago and just walk along them making use of the wonderful hospitality of the badagas. anyone interested can join me. I am a lawyer at gudalur. my cell no is 09487130262. feb, march april and may are the right time to do these treks. so lets celebrate the beauty of the nilgiris and be with nature and the wonderful badagas.

Sir
I’m from Horanally under Mekku Nadu Seemai. My doubt is according to the details, Pororai hatti comes under Mercunad [Mekku Nadu]. But people normally marry between these two hatties. Please clear my doubt

Badaga.Wordpress.Com is doing an excellent job. simply superb. Definitely you have to complete entire website work asap. If possible, will be proud to be a part of your team. I am settled in Coimbatore. I am too much interested. please let me know.

Thank you Shivakrishnaa, you are most welcome to e part of our team by contributing articles/pictures/titbits etc. If found suitable, the same will be posted with your byline – Wg Cdr JP

Hello Jayaprakash Uncle
Nice article,,,,,But I dont think those seven brothers worshiped shiva…..If they worshiped shiva, our forefather should at least have some idol (may be made of stone) in their houses…..But i don’t see any idol culture exist in our hatties earlier…we never worshiped god in idol form….we always worshiped god in spirit or natural worshipers…Earlier days each and every hoses use thevigai in their hoga maney to worship god (Indirectly says god is light)….But hinduism exist in our culture in 19th century……..Cheers…

Can Anyone tell that under “Kundhey Seemay” which all Hatti come under which particular “OORU”? It has not mentioned anything clearly about Kundhey Seemay…So pl can anyone update me with some detail information?

My kind request to all Badagas, please do not sell your land to outsiders. Otherwise, we have to vecate nilgiris and search some other place in Google;
Or the situation will turn in such a way as we have to work under them as coolies.

Hello sir,
I have a small doubt regarding the Thothanad division…
You hav mentioned “Toda father brought the Gowda Baby up and it is said that he is the founder of the ‘Thothanad’ division ”
Actually who is the founder of Thothanad division..? the Gowda Baby or that Toda father…?
I wil get a clear idea about my seemey if you clear my doubt…

I visited The Nilgiris, it is a wonderful place. I came across a place called “PitaPur Palace”. I don’t have much information about this place. Kindly tell me more about this palace. and the King of this place.Their lifestyle and origin.

Pitapur Palace is a private property now and the owner residents are mainly Badagas

Hey mamma,
You ave done a great job. I m very proud of you. All you have written in this website is ok. But missed one thing. That’s about our badaga girls. I am waiting for the information of our badaga girls with their photos. JAYOOOOOOOOOO…….. JAYA.

Hi Sujith, sure I will write about our Badaga girls and their great grit and determination. If Badagas are what we are today – proud with our heads held high, it is only due to our women. Photos , pl send your photo first and we will see….Wg Cdr JP

Sir, one correction in your details.. The people from Kinnakorai orginally came from Porangaadu seeme and settled there.. So they cant be included in Kundhae seeme .. They should be included in Porangaadu seeme..

Hello Anand, I am aware that there is ‘some confusion’ aboutwhich SEEMAY Kinnakorai belongs to. My info is mainly based on what Prof.P.Hockings’s study. It is quite possible that Kinnakorai originally belonged to Porangadu. I am at a loss to say anything definitive. May be, people like you or the elders in Kinnakorai could throw more light on this.

Incidentally, Kinnakorai is one of the most beautiful hattis and is right at Kerala border in the silent valley region. As of now, I gather, some of the property – including hola – of this Badaga villagers is located in Kerala. Before reorganisation of states in 1951, Kinnakorai and rest of that area was in Madras presidency [from British days]. Though, I have seen this hatti from a far of distance [near Manjoor], my ambition has been to visit this hatti with somuch of history – Wg Cdr JP

First of all, HATS OFF for you and your great effort…. Recently I have been googling about our culture and most of the places I see the information posted by you in most of the blogs, websites etc… That’s really fantastic.. Will be expecting more info from you in future….

A small piece which I knew regarding the earlier post by Monisha.R (K…..)
“…..I like Badaga cultural.I loved one boy very sincerely but we didnot have “morai” and we departed.We want to change this alone….I miss you V…”

In our culture, we dont have anything without reasons… To answer your question about “Morai”…. Medically, it is proved that handicap children or abnormal children will be born when you marry within relations…

Our forefathers are not less efficient, they knew everything.. So they have structured our culture very well…Hence, we have seemai’s in our culture and we don’t have morai within that… See in a wide perspective, in our culture we will find very very very few handicapped people compared to all other people….

Everything is for our Good !!!!

So lets not hate our culture and lets encourage & grew it…..

Dear JP, If possible convey this info to “Monisha”. Atleast, let them be aware of wonderful things in our culture…..
[I am sure Monisha will be reading this. Thank you very much for your kind comments – Wg.Cdr. JP]

Wow…Wonderfull effort. Simply amazing.. I came to know about all the names of our beautiful villages.

I am from Kethorai,a superb village which is located at 6 kms from Coonoor.It has a fantastic temple of Meenakshi Amman at its entrance as to wel come all people with the blessings of lord.It is built with statues of 6 feet which seems like real people standing. There are several statues which all together makes up a marriage scene. Our main festivals are Meenakshi Amman Chariot festival celebrated for three days and Hetthai Habba. Our Meenakshi amman temple is under renovation now and after which our village will become beautiful even more.

Our village looks wonderful as it is surrounded by mountains and greens on all sides. Im eager to add photos of our village and temple,can someone help me on how and where can add.[Deepak I have sent a mail to you abt this – JP]

I agree with what Pavithra (Hanikorai) said. It will be really helpfull for youngsters.
Thanks all…….!!!!!!

Recently I visited Kethorai.
I am planning to migrate to a nearby place about a kilometer before Ketorai while coming from Ellanalli.
I grew up in Nilgris and want to have retired life there now. Happy to know about the temple.
Is my choice good?. Deepak can you get in touch with me? I would like to have more information about the place.

Hello Soma, It is upto people like you to get special info about your hatti and inform me so that I can put them up. If I come to know of anything special abt Muttinadu, it will be, surely, published. – JP

It is very amazing site for badagas. I would suggest a idea to create Badaga Matrimonial Web site Separte. It would be useful for badagas those who are living in abroad and other cities like Chennai, Bangalore, and Coimbatore

I feeel very proud that I belong to this community. Youngsters should mainly know about the Seemai which they belong to as it will be useful to choose their life partner, and this website provides an opportunity for this.Thank you.

Can I add my Hatti photos in any of our badaga website, if so please let me which web site and how to add

You are most welcome to send your hatti or any interesting photo connected or concerned with Badaga and Nilgiris. The photos will be published in http://www.badaga.in and other Badaga websites hosted by me with due credit given to you – Wg Cdr JP

All the hattis are reflected with the Badaga way of ‘calling’ them. Thanks for the additional info about ‘Adikaratti’ or Adygaratty. One of the sects of Badagas is ‘Adik[g]aris’ like ‘Haruvas’ and their hatti was known as Adikaratti.

Thanks for your quick reply for colors, but can u clarify, is Green color also called / known as Acchai (pachai) color?

Yes, many elders still call green as ‘hachchai’. It shows the importance given to environment. Though, hachchai can also mean very young ( ref : hachchai-ya kiththadhu pappa in funeral prayer [karu haruchodhu]. – JP

The hatti names are given as pronounced by Badagas [Read my article fully] and not as listed in the post offices or other wise. For your information; do you know the meaning of ‘Thittu’ and ‘Dhittu’? Dhittu is an elevated place. Is your hatti on top of a hillock or mount ?

As far as I am concerned, it is Manjitha and NOT Manjithala, Jakkadha and NOT Jagathala etc etc ? Please let me know what do you feel, so that I can put it in the site – JP

please add my hatty NADUHATTY ( kattabettu ) Just now I have entered into this website….. spent 30 mins here….till date I never knew about our badagas and their achievements. Because of your hard work, am just looking and enjoying…even I came to know about a famous personality from my village that is NADUHATTY, a lovely place near middle of KOTAGIRI to COONOOR its realy super….keep it up…..my best wishs..to you..

Just now I have entered into this website….. spent 30 mins here….till date I never knew about our badagas and their achievements. Because of your hard work, am just looking and enjoying…even I came to know about a famous personality from my village that is Mel Bickatty, a lovely place near Aruvankadu ….now I got addicted to this site….its simply superb……

I regret that I could not to meet or call on you during my visit to India because of my personal commitments. I will make it possible to meet you in my next visit.My heartiest wishes to you and your team and well wishers, who helped to growth of this site.

I am so happy to see that I am dancing in that video, yes its me! I am the one who dancing in the second row 1st. I am so proud to be a Badaga and I really appreciate those who created this website, thousands of thanks for them.

Really its quite interesting to see our community history and only after seeing this web site, I have come to know a lot about Badagas..it will be very useful for youngsters and others to know about the community and its wide network for those to get in touch worldwide

on December 20, 2008 , srinivasan wrote :-
I am from Hubbathalai, this is nice work about our community,we should appreciate this beautiful work, my village is a beautiful village and I am proud of my VILLAGE,please visit our village during HETHAI HABBA and RAM HABBA

I am elementary schoolmate of Mr.Srinivasan from Baduga community. The later father’s name is Mr.Raman, Sr.Position in the TNEB. Mr.Raman uncle may have retired from TNEB Service now. I want to contact my friend Srinivasan now. We lost contact since 1979. My self, Srinivasan and Babu, studied together in Kethai called as pegumbagalla camp of Ooty District during 1973-1979.

I appreciate your responsible reply. The ‘one man effort’ of your services to our community is really excellent and hardwork.

My request to all IT professionals brothers & sisters our community, who are interested to join their hands with you and extend their support to our Badaga community……your efforts will be highly appreciated.

Thanks for inserting my commens in the site within a week. Everyday I’m visiting this site and spending at least an hour.

Hearing our badagsongs and reading new information give lovely feeling and to forgot our worries for certain period of time.
This is my small request (suggestion) that if you can add the names important personality of Hatties (Oor Thalaivars) and contact numbers will be very helpful to our community, also put festival details of hatties, which will be helpful to interested fellow brothers & sisters who all are missing due to working in abroad.

Hello Ramji, Thanks a lot. I am humbled by your kind comments. My site is a ‘one man effort’ and hence I may take a little bit of time to give the info you wish to see. But since your suggestions are very good, let me start ASAP. My regard for Manjoorians is rising….earlier it is Ravi Balraj from Kuwait and now it is you. Keep it up Kundhe Seemay!

This is the the 10th time I am visiting this site, really I wondered. It took 2 hours to go through this site, you have done a fantastic job. Its just like a bible for our next generation. Thanks for your commitment.

great indian ———————– great badagas

Pororai hatti is a small and very beautiful hatty in the nilgiris.In this Pororai boys are very nice and cute persons.

Thank you Kanna, it is due to persons like you, I get motivated to do more for our community. I am sure all the people of your hatty are very nice and cute – JP

JP Mamma, how can i create the Sakkalty Village details in Wikipedia, do you have any ideas about this please share with me…i will be very thankful to you if you help me to publish my Hatty in more popular,since we are small community and many of our Baduga brothers and sisters are not much aware about my Hatty…

This is the the first time I am visitingthis site, really I wondered. It took 5 hours to go through this site, you have done a fantastic job. Its just like a bible for our next generation. Thanks for your commitment!

Thank you Anand, it is comments like yours that make me feel both satisfied and to do more – Wg Cdr JP

I am a native of Honnathalai. and I was amazed about the facts mentioned in this website. All badaga’s should thank you for the superb work done by you, Mr. Bellie Jayaprakash. I’m really a fan of the badaga songs, why don’t you add the download option for the songs, it may be helpful for some one like me. Please publish about the festivals of Badagas’ including Hethai Habba

Very interesting one is this web site for badagas , I really welcome this and thanking you all for giving this much information on this site ,,, but no information is given about jagathala , please add the details about Jagathala

JP adds: Thank you Suresh, pl send me photo/info about Jakkadha and I will surely publish them

Gai Kandi (Gandhi Kandi) village – hatti is said to be newly built (1950). But the village very close to Gai Kandi , ATTU BAILU, is the one which was created very recently.

This village which was below Emarald Dam was affected by floods many times and hence was relocated to a new place.

JP adds : With due respect to Manjoor Raja, the name ‘GAI Kandi’ is based on the wind [Gai in Badaga] conditions and not Gandhi Kandi. No Badaga Village is named after any person. Secondly, I had visited Gai Kandi twice and spoken to that village elders including an elderly gentleman famous as a ‘medicine man’ from ATTU BAILU. They all confirm that Gai Kandi to be a newer one. Just because, Attu Bailu is relocated, in my opinion, it does not become a new hatti

I am from Hubbathalai, this is nice work about our community,we should appreciate this beautiful work, my village is a beautiful village and I am proud of my VILLAGE,please visit our village during HETHAI HABBA and RAM HABBA,

I just search badaga in google; I found this amazing and superb website; I got more infomation about our culture and community.
Special thanks to Mr. Bellie Jayaprakash for his kind effort for our community; I am very proud of him, who is nearby my village, Pororaihatty. Now I am in Coimbatore.
I am very happy to viewing my hatty ( porore) photo there in Mekkunadu seemae list.

In Thodha Naadu Seemae- Ebbanad is given as [59] Ebbunadu and Kengamudi as[17] Kenguvamudi. Pls change this to Ebbanad and Kengamudi. And also I have one more doubt [ref 84.Melatti] in which seemae is this hatti situated?

I would like say a few words about my village. Ebbanad is temple village of Nilgiris. The people of Ebbanad and Kengamudi belong to Meekunadu seemae but we are living in Thodha nadu seemae.

In Thodha Naadu Seeme – Sholur name has spelled with wrong name [Refer this 13. Soluru ] . Pls change this to Sholur.

As I had mentioned ( “I have preferred to use the names as known to Badagas. For example, Jakkada for Jagathala or Manjida for Manjithala or Pedduva for Pethala “)
I have given the names of our villages as called [pronounced] by Badgas. However I have given SHOLUR within brackets as you have desired -JP

The efforts taken for this website are outstanding and simply superb.Proud and lucky to be born in Badaga Community. But at the same time I felt little ashamed of myself because being a Badaga I have learnt lots of information (badaga origin, history etc ) only now thru this website.Really thanks for all the kind hearted persons who have shown their interest in creating this website. My advise to all young generations is to spread good words about our good community to everywhere in this world.

After all I am a kind of person who simply dies for the old songs ie.songs sung by the legends Mr.Kerben bella Gowder and Mr.Kurudu Kada.I love those songs and sometime i listen to the savu songs sung by Bella Gowder when I am in a depressed mood. Of course me too a moderate singer. Thanks for giving excellent songs which cannot be forgotten ever in my life.

You have done a good job.I think you have not heard about our village. The name of the village is “Uyilatty”; its really a beautiful hatty.I would be happy to see the pictures ; articles of our village.

JP comments > Thank you. I have heard about your hatti [see s.no.82 under Thodha Naadu Seame] but not seen it so far. Will visit soon. Prof.Paul Hockings feels that UYILATTI means a hamlet beyond boundary [UGAL HATTI]. As I keep requesting youngsters like you to send me pictures and articles about your village [by checking with the elders of the hatti you may gather some interesting titbits] and I will definitely publish them with due credit to the author.

You have done a good job.Though I am a Baduga I know of only a few hutties. Now I am suprised to see hundreds of hutties here.This is very useful for us to know about other hutties. I belong to Bearhatty.

Wg.Cdr. JP adds: Though born and brought up at Hubbathalai, my hatti is also BEARHATTI

You forgot to add Annikorai in Thothanadu seemai. Annikorai has good identification oiver the nilgiri villages and it comes under the thothanadu seemai. I am surprised, how you have missed it from the classification.

Also if you are able to list the villages within seemais alphabetically, identification will become much easy. You have taken an excellent initiative to make this website a great online traditions library. My sincere appreciations, love and prayers.

Hi Sashi,

I have not forgotten ‘ANNIKORAI’, it is mentioned as ‘HANNI KORE’ [No.8 under ‘Thodha Nadhu Seeme’. As I have mentioned in the article, the hattis are mentioned as they are known and referred to by Badagas. For example, ‘Jakkada’ is ‘Jegathala’ – JP

It’s a great effort. I really appreciate the work u folks put in developing this site, and making things lively. I am Ramesh Mathan belongs to Thumbimalai hutty, Kil-kotagiri area. I am working in London, United Kingdom as a Software Engineer.

Let me come to my point. I have read many articles regarding the Badaga and European connection. The Y-chromosome DNA marker test on the badagas has resulted in the badagas belonging to the R1a and specifically R1a1 Haplogroup. Moreover, few percentages of people in Central and east part of Europe also belong to R1a1 Haplogroup.

Is this true? It’s surprising. I spend most of my recent times thinking on this topic. I started hunting for information from different web sites to know more about this, and trying to get something out of it. It would be more interesting if we get closer and dig more on this. Being in Europe now, to get underway, I am preparing myself to know more about R1a1 Haplogroup people who live in Europe, and study their culture and life style. The outcome would help us to compare and research on how we relate to them. I strongly believe that as deeper we go, we may get lot more facts; hope these combination of real facts would form a principle.

I have just visited this page after three months gap. Surprised to see all the development and wide range of coverage. Really wonderful work. Nowadays this site is becoming like a dictionary for our badaga community. I kindly request you to check the following.
In my opinion, in Porangadu seeme, 14. Ali ooru and 113. Hayoor are same. 16. Sayil dittu should be corrected as Samil dhittu.

Santhoor was added because Rajunandha recommended in his post in Badaga.org.

Earlier, N Bellie has also taken strong objection to Santhoor being included. He writes in his post “In Badaga Hatties, Shantoor was added as a Badaga Hatti. But Shantoor is not a Badaga Hatti. There only non badagas live, and it is a small bazaar in Ketti.

Anyhow Badaga Christians are living in two hamlets nearby Shantoor and they are known as THORAJADA and KOMBUKORAI. Kindly note this error, and delete Shantoor from Badaga Hatties list ”

Shantoor does not come under any of the hatti/seemae.
This is one of the place where people from Ketti seemae
and nearby villages who have converted to Christianity live.
Now there are many other people who live there. This is
one of the Christian mission centres founded very early in the Nilgiris.
This is because Badaga villages do not take any outsider
other than the badagas who live by the traditions of Hethai.
May be we ignore this as a hatti.

Badaga Dance

Badaga dance is all about grace and style. It is a wonderful sight when a group of ladies dance together. During the funeral, the ladies of the parental village [hatti] of the deceased woman, dance going around the cot [kattalu] to the music provided by the 'host' hatti musicians.
Badaga Dance

Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash, the 'All-in-One' of this site. Started as a hobby but now an obsession.

Even when I was down with poverty and sat at the front court yard,
Even when the near and dear ones despised and deserted,
My mother who gave birth, cared for and brought me up,
Did not blame me and did not reject me- her son, as bad

Even when I toiled as a Cooli with a bent back,
Even when I sat down with my looks dulled and dirty,
Even when I wore patched up old clothes,
My mother never said that I was down ; never rejected me as poor!

Even when I entered the stables and cleaned the dung,
Even when I sat on the rock and tendered the cows,
Even when I lifted loads to earn so as to suppress the hunger,
My mother never found any fault ; never scolded me as ignorant.

Athikkodhu & Karu Harachodhu

The beauty about Badaga community is not only the unique customs specific to the community but the steadfast belief with which atleast some of them are followed by Badagas. One of them is the loud chanting of ‘Athikkodhu – EAY AH HOW – on certain but specific occasions. It is said that in earlier days [hundreds of years back], when the Badaga villages [hattis] were separated by thick jungle forests , 'athikkindu Hoppadhu ' - traversing the forest with loud athikkodhu chant - kept the wild animals away.

Three occasions, when this loud chanting takes place, come to mind immediately,
1)During “Hethay Habba’ – both when from every village the devotees go to Hethay temples at Beragani and Peddhuva [as well as when the Hethay deity from Hethai Gudi is taken to ‘Madi Halla -river’ for change into new dress once a year].Also, and whenever a hatti temple deity is taken on procession during habbas in hattis],
2) During weddings when the bride and groom are brought to the ‘Madhuvay Mane – wedding house' and the newly weds are taken to the temple and
3) On funerals when the widow is brought for ‘olay Kattodhu’ and the ‘akki eththuva ‘ procession starts from the ‘dhodda Mane’ to ‘saavu hanay ‘ where the corpse/body is kept before being taken for burial.

This loud ‘chanting /cry’ is made from the bottom of the stomach by a few leading the procession and repeated by the rest following them.

I have given the ‘live’ recordings of this unique chanting (recorded during a wedding [the band playing in the background] at Thambatty

More than 550,000 hits…

That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] on BADAGA that is focused on a small community of the Blue Mountains - the Nilgiris, in the southern part of India. Is it due to...

the urge to know the unknown about ourselves....

to sift the truth from fiction....the satisfaction that we have a very unique history.....the mystery about the mistaken migration.....the traditions that are still steadfastly followed.....the great language that has survived for centuries without a script...

The simple fact that this site's motto of 'Proud to be a Badaga ; Proud to be an Indian' has become an accepted norm...

You all, my dear friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude.

Proud to be an Indian and proud to be a Badaga, indeed.

Hope to say - 'thanks a million' soon...

Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash, is the 'All-in-One' of this site. He says that he started this site as a hobby but now it has become an obsession.This website crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors on 8-3-2010, 150,000 visitors on 20-4-2011, 200,000 visitors on 6-4-2012 , 250,000 on 22-1-2013, 300,000 hits on 6-1-2014, 350,000 on 6-1-15 and 400,000 on 13 -11-2015550000 hits on 1 Jan 2018. Feel humbled but proud

Badaga

From the heart

Do you feel very strongly about any issue concerning Badaga Community? Have the urge to pour your heart out ? Feel free to express yourself without any inhibition and send them tobjaypee@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save the TIGER

Tiger is HULI in Badaga Lanuage

Read any Indian Newspaper

Read any Indian Newspaper. [ In all Indian Languages]
CLICK HERE
------------------------
Bhuvaneshwari R writes :- This website is one of the best I have seen. Didn’t think I would find so much detail about our culture.
The history of origin of Badagas is quite fascinating. Photos are also really great.
Really good to see someone do an effort to spread awareness.Thank you…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some great Hethey songs!

Song uploaded in Soundcloud by Suresh M

Needs & Greeds

Here's a question that was posed to the Dalai Lama:

"What thing about humanity surprises you the most?"

His answer is : "MAN - Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn't enjoy the present,

And as a result he doesn't live in the present or the future. And he lives as if he's never going to die and then he dies having never really lived".

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The ‘HARD FACT’

The Nigiris, the famous tourist hill station, known as 'Naakku Betta' to the native Badagas, is indeed a Nature's gift and piece of Paradise on earth.

Unfortunately, the district does not offer many if not any job opportunities to the increasingly aspiring and educated youth. They have to go down to the plains like Coimbatore, Tirupur etc. And, in the bargain, many Badagas have relocated to the plains on a permanent basis.

Another unfortunate fallout is, with the falling price for unprocessed [green leaf] tea, Badagas have been selling their tea estates ['Thotta' to them], usually small holdings of a couple of acres as a sort of distress sale. The outsiders mainly from big cities are always willing to grab a piece of 'Paradise' as their holiday vacation destination.

Added to the misery is the exploitation by the 'middle men' who literally make a 'killing' in both selling of plots/houses in the plains for huge prices or buying the land [small tea estates] for a song.

Over a period of time and after a lot of discussions, I have identified VEDA PROPERTIES, owned by a Badaga, to be one of the transparent and reliable concerns who can offer very good services. They have tied up with many reputed property developers.

Veda Properties can help in buying/selling plots and built houses both in the Nilgiris and in Coimbatore districts including the much sought after destinations like Veerapandi, Peria Nayakkan Palayam, Vada Madurai, Thidialur etc

hat is more, Veda Properties have agreed to offer special discounts to the readers of our website www.badaga.co.

If interested in special discounts please contact bjaypee@gmail.com. This is a FREE service for a fair deal and an initiative to prevent exploitation.

550,000 hits and counting

That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] on BADAGA that is focused on a small community of the Blue Mountains - the Nilgiris, in the southern part of India. Is it due to...

the urge to know the unknown about ourselves....

to sift the truth from fiction....the satisfaction that we have a very unique history.....the mystery about the mistaken migration.....the traditions that are still steadfastly followed.....the great language that has survived for centuries without a script...

The simple fact that this site's motto of 'Proud to be a Badaga ; Proud to be an Indian' has become an accepted norm...

You all, my dear friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude.

Proud to be an Indian and proud to be a Badaga, indeed.

Hope to say - 'thanks a million' soon...

Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash, is the 'All-in-One' of this site. He says that he started this site as a hobby but now it has become an obsession.This website crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors on 8-3-2010, 150,000 visitors on 20-4-2011, 200,000 visitors on 6-4-2012 , 250,000 on 22-1-2013, 300,000 hits on 6-1-2014, 350,000 on 6-1-15 and 400,000 on 13 -11-2015550000 hits on 1 Jan 2018. Feel humbled but proud